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The Crystal Ring.
Chapter 15: Surprise it's a House pt 2

Chapter 15: Surprise it's a House pt 2

  A dreamless sleep was all that awaited Eheric as he drifted off amidst stress induced fits of fear, and anxiety. He didn't know how long he had slept for, but he could sleep no longer as he got to his feet in the pitch black darkness.

  "This is very disorienting I need to get some form of lighting going on, I wonder how I could go about that. I obviously can't use electricity like I would back on Earth, but if I could find some kind of magical fix for it that'd be amazing. I wonder if [Enchanting] exists, oooooo I wonder if I could make up my own Enchanting runic language." Nodding his head at his on bemused thoughts briefly covering up his feelings of stress of discovery. He decided to ask his purple box manager if he had any ideas on his likelyhood of being found out.

"Hey Mr. Purple got any idea if me being mentioned as an Alpha tester will draw wandering eyes in my direction?"

Im sorry, but the number you have reached has been disconnected or no longer in service.

He tried to be annoyed at the things antics, but he could only chuckle for the stupidity of it all.

"Ok ok I'll admit that was a good one, but I don't know how else I should address you aside from stupid nicknames. What would you like me to know you as?"

The being was quiet for a short time before responding through a text box.

You may know me as C. I'm afraid that's all you can know about me. To answer your previous question I'm not sure to be honest. It's a little hectic up here right now with Beta coming in 100 years, and release expected to be within the next 1,000 years. If I had to take a shot in the dark so to speak I would say it's unlikely, but it would be a good idea to be cautious, so try not to draw too much attention to yourself.

'Well thats just great "C" has no idea either, but I should follow their advice on trying to lay low so no more huge technolgical advancements for now at least in the Stone Age I seem to be in now.'

"One more question, is it possible to invent something like a skill, and would it show up as like a world wide notice?"

Give me a second to check some coding, and I'll let you know.....

Depends according to whats coded right now I assume it could be subject to change, but the A.I. we have in charge of the world as it is won't generate announcements server wide as of yet. If you do manage to generate a skill it will forever be a part of the game even on release so you may want to be careful with how prolific your ideas could make you as it will be recorded in the annuls of the worlds history.

  Nodding along as he read the notification box he decided that he could at least try, and that would be his short term goal for now. As he was about to get up and start his work for the day one final question seemed to breech the forefront of his consciousness. It wasn't really a massively important one, but if he didn't as it would bug him forever.

  "Hey C, why are you so compliant with helping me anymore, I really appreciate it and all, but I am curious as to why you've become extremely less sarcastic recently.." He tried his best to not seem meek, and eager but he was unsure if he managed more than a whisper when he asked.

EWWW Gross don't get all emotional on me kid, you just helped me out and I always pay back those who help me, and mine. Now go back to breaking the game or whatever I need to finish my coffee.

  Sighing he determined the best course of action would be to just let it drop and work on his idea for runic enchanting before he became badgered by the locals for his weird housing choice.

  'I mean they live underground so this will probably blow their minds or something. I should check on my stats though I havent done that in a long time.'

  Stretching Eheric walks in the direction of his front door, or he hopes he is so he can go outside. He thought it'd be super lame to get caught in something you made yourself because you didn't have the hindsight to make a light source. Putting his indiscretions behind him he found the loosely hung makeshift door, and pushed it open to welcome a new day in the underground jungle paradise he now called home, at least for now anyway.

  "I'd call anyone a moron if they never left to explore an unknown world if they were given the chance. It'd be like growing up, and never moving more than 10 miles from your home town." The thought only brought him misery, because in his past life he had done exactly that, but he refused to be that way in this one.

"STATUS!!"

Eheric Kenwood: Level 10 (5%) 47,010 Experience

Race: Koresian-Godling (Hybrid).

Class: Crystal Alchemist

Health: 400/400 Regen: 15 points per minute. Mana: 1325/1325 Regen: 35 points per minute.

Attributes

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Con: 20

Str: 21

Int:40

Will:25

Luk: 11

Ing: 26

Agi: 16

Skill List

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Appraisal: Beginner lvl 9 (15%)

Herblore: Beginner lvl 6 (11%)

Mana Manipulation: Intermediate lvl 2 (0%)

Earth Mana Manipulation: Beginner lvl 5 (10%)

Construction Intermediate lvl 1 (5%)

Available Skill Points:250

  He was quite happy with his little bit of skill, and attribute growth, and only expected Great things to come. He noted that if he wanted he could buy the Time, and Space Magic, but it could wait while he checked the skill tree system for anything resembling the [Enchanting Skill]. The still alien atmosphere of the skill menus continued to throw him off, he'd only been here once before so noone could really blame him for feeling like being in a forbidden temple of knowledge hidden deep in space. Floating through the endless expanse of star like skill nodes he couldn't find anything close to the enchanting skill.

  The only thing he could find right now was an enscription skill, and a mana infusion skill. Costing 100, and 50 skill points respectively he bit down his feelings of indignation and made his purchase.

Congratulations you have learned Enscription, and Mana Infusion Skills.

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Enscription: Beginner Level 1(0%)

The Enscription skill allows the user to carve symbols into weapons, items, and armor in the chance they might inscribe magical properties into the item.

Mana Cost: 200 mana per use of the skill, and 25 mana per second while the skill is active.

Higher levels will increase knowledge of the skill, as well as lower mana cost.

Mana Infusion: Beginner level 1(0%)

  Used in conjuntion with the Enscription skill the user can infuse mana into runes, and symbolistic imagery to inscrease the chance of magical effects taking hold.

Mana Cost: 100 Mana for initial use, and 15 mana per second the skill is active.

Higher skill levels will increase practical knowledge of mana flow, and lower mana cost per usage.

  He felt slightly dejected at the aquisition cost of his new skills, and sincerely hoped that they would prove useful for what he had in mind. Returning from the void he let his eyes adjust to the slightly pink glow that covered everything in his line of sight thanks to the humongous Rose Quartz crystal formations that had take a massive part of the far end of the cavern he now called home. Stretching as he stood to his feet from his awkward attempt at a meditative pose like he had seen in a few documentaries about shaolin monks, he realized for the first time in a week he had to answer the call fo nature. Though surprised he couldn't hold the urge back any longer, and ran into the nearby tree line to relieve himself.

  He would have to ask someone about his new body, because as it stood he understood very little of it himself. A gentle breeze caressed his inner thighs as he was reminded that he was still clad in little more than his birthday suite. This should have bothered him more, but as it stood now it just seemed like a hindrance to have to take the time to make some form of clothing, maybe he could trade his ideas to commission a set of clothes from someone nearby.

  Upon reaching the entrance to the underground village of the Gnomosapiens he noticed a few milling about the entrance like makeshift guards of some sort. Jogging up to the two creatures startled them briefly as he stood roughly 2 feet higher than even the chief who as far as Eheric had seen was the tallest of his kind only a few inches shorter than him. A briefly stammered through conversation allowed him into another meeting with the chief which he was dreading after his last outburst. Nodding to himself he begin to hum the tune headstrong by a band he had long forgotten about to psyche himself up.

  The guard who guided him along the narrow tunnels eyed him wearily unsure as to what he was doing. Before he knew it he was broken from his thoughts as the arrived the ever more familair doorway to the chieftains hollow. Sighing he resigned himself to his fate as he trapsed through the entrance in what he hoped was a nonchalent fashion.

  "Well well well look whose returned to grace me with his presence." A sarcastic  statement was his only greeting as a jovial laugh filled the small room, but the tone didn't match the emotions the chief had portrayed.

  'Yuuuuuuup he is mad at me, well I had this coming that's for sure I have no idea why I was so sure of myself last time. Probably riding the adrenaline high from the fight i passed out at the end of.' A meek sigh left his lungs as he attempted to make up for his asinine behavior.

  "Look Chief...I must apologize for the way I acted the other day, I honestly don't know why I behaved the way I did, but I have come in hopes of not only making up for my past transgretions, and hopefully bargain for the honor of no longer being clad in nothing but my own skin. Where I come from it is considered quite rude to always be naked in public, and as much as I honestly have been getting used to the way things are I will someday have to leave the safety of this cave. If my fight with the golem was any indication of my own defense I will need something on me to pad the blows." He was sincere in his request as he eyed the chief warily hoping for some sign of forgiveness.

  Minutes passed in silence as the chief contemplated Eherics offer of trade, but this naked man had nothing but a satchel, and a necklace that the chief himself had made. After the boys last outburst in his presence the man was sure that this broke, and destitute being could offer him nothing of value. Though clothes weren't considered a luxury by any means the boys acts of aggression previously coupled with the power he had witnessed during his fight with a corrupted golem. He knew better than to trust Eheric completely.

  No good excuse other than he didn't feel like it were the only ones he could come up with to deny the young man's request, but he had heard reports of a strange structure erected to the west, and he was sure that the man before him knew a whole lot about it. He was determined to everage this information for what the boy had asked for, the welfare of his people was after all his number one goal, and his pettiness could take a backseat for now.

  Growing increasingly nervous as he sat in silence Eheric let out a small cough in the pretense of clearing his throat, but he really had hoped that it would bring the chief back from the lands of his thoughts. The chiefs previously glazed stare had disipated as the man cleared his own throat, and began to talk.

  "While I have my misgivings about helping someone as rude as you, if your idea could help my people in some way I will set my honor as chief on hold to better their lives. You see traveler it is not what one can gain from others, but what they can do for others that matters most." The old man seemed to contemplate his words for a minute before continuing on.

  "As much as it pains me to say I will hear you out, but that is all I am promising for now, I'd like to know more about what one as poor as you could offer my people." Sitting back the chief nodded in confirmation for Eheric to give his marketing ploy a chance.

  Eheric smiled and nodded his appreciative thanks for being given the opportunity as he began a tale of his houses construction, and his plans for the future. By the end of his proposal the chief seemed to be more on board than Eheric could have hoped for as he agreed to give the chief a tour of his newly built home. The chief slid out his chair and stood to his full height and turned to the guard telling him that he would be out for a little bit, and to hold any messages from the villagers until he returned. Apprehensive about his new responsibility he  could only nod his head, he was grateful he wouldn't have to follow the stran ge man out into the jungle.

  It took Eheric roughly fifteen minutes to get back to his house with the chief in tow. Turning towards the chief once the reached the front of his house he could only muster a half hearted tada as the chiefs eyes lit up, and asked Eheric to continue on with the tour. Full of questions the chief asked him various things about how he had built such a structure in a short amount of time. By the end the chief agreed to help him obtain clothes if Eheric would help build him a shrine to Chronus their chosen deity in a similar manner.

  After explaining the process, and giving the chief a verbal list of things he required to make the building he agreed to mee him near the entrance of the hollow village shortly.

  Unable to contain his enthusiasm to be able to wear clothes again he rushed inside to a sleeping Hyowai to inform her of his plans, though she brushed it off in her half awake state, and told him to leave her alone so she could sleep. Brushing it off he could on smile and be on his way, nothing could bring him down from the idea of feeling slightly human again. He took his time reaching the village entrance again, because he was under the belief it would take the chief time to make good on their agreement, but was left dubstruck as he cleared the edge of the dense wooded area. 20 villagers plus the chief were all standing expectantly by the hole read, and rearing to help with the upcoming project.

  He smiled as he now wore pants woven from Olba Tree fibers that fit him perfectly, though the were rather rushed in quaity and slightly itchy in the manhood region he was still tickled pink to have some form of modesty return to his life. Noticing the villagers lack of tools he asked the chief how they planned to achieve this feat of engineering the chief seemed confused before Eheric began to explain stone hatchets, and rope to the man. His inner voice screaming at him in derision about lost potential.

  'Serious you know how to make cloth fibers from a tree but never thought about turning it into something like rope!' Biting back the bile that threatened to burst forth Eheric decided that he had gained enough for now, and convinced himself that he would benefit more from happy neighbors.

  When the chief eyed him apprehensively he asked about Eheric supplying the tools, and how long it would take, as well as how much Eheric wanted in return. The chief was quite sceptical when he was told nothing, and refused to let himself owe Eheric anything called to a nearby villager. Confused the village stumbled forward and had a muted discussion with the chief. The small man nodded his understand and took off into the hole head first in an elegant swan dive.

  Eherics confusion didn't last long as the tiny man returned with more clothes. He cocked his head to the side in askance while looking at the chief as he nodded and hande doff the clothes to Eheric, he didn't hesitate to put them on. Now sporting a shirt, and a hat that looked like it was made of straw he handed out axes while explaining to the volunteers how to use them to achieve their goal of knocking down a few trees.

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